CBD Oil News

The History of CBD: From Discovery to Today

Posted on by
13
Sep

Did you know that the first recorded use of cannabis for medicine was back in 2737 BC? Cannabis has a long history! We know what it was used for, where, and how, dating back thousands of years. It’s seriously impressive.

But what about CBD specifically? That’s much newer — not even a century old! And while it’s a recent discovery, the story is just as fascinating.

CBD History: The Beginning

CBD history begins in 1940, when British chemist Robert S. Cahn reported the partial structure of the first individual cannabinoid, cannabinol (CBN).

Two years later, American chemist Roger Adams successfully isolated Cannabidiol (CBD) — and also discovered Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Interestingly, CBD was actually discovered before THC!

By 1946, Dr. Walter S. Loewe tested these cannabinoids on animals and noticed that CBD and THC appeared to have different effects on behavior in mice.

[RELATED] The history of hemp in general is just as fascinating. Check it out here.

When Was CBD Fully Identified?

Although Adams isolated CBD, he wasn’t exactly sure what he had found. It wasn’t until 1963 that Dr. Raphael Mechoulam described CBD’s chemical structure for the first time, clarifying the differences between cannabinoids. A year later, he did the same for THC. Mechoulam is often called the “Father of CBD” for this groundbreaking work.

By the 1960s, research on isolated cannabinoids extended to primates, and in the 1970s, the British Pharmacopoeia released the first cannabis tincture for medicinal use. In 1978, Mechoulam collaborated with South American researchers on a study examining cannabis and epilepsy, which became an important milestone in cannabinoid research.

Movements Towards Legality

Even as research progressed, CBD remained under the shadow of previous prohibition:

  • 1937 – The Marijuana Tax Act caused hemp to decline in the U.S.
  • 1970 – The Controlled Substances Act classified hemp as a Schedule I drug.

Progress began in 1996 when California became the first U.S. state to legalize medical marijuana. In 1998, UK pharmaceutical company GW Pharmaceuticals started clinical trials on CBD, and in 2003, the U.S. government patented CBD as a neuroprotectant.

In 2007, the first hemp licenses in over 50 years were granted to farmers in North Dakota, opening the door for broader cultivation.

[RELATED] Did you know that during World War II, the U.S. government encouraged farmers to grow hemp in a promotional video called Hemp for Victory? Watch it here.

CBD and the Farm Bill

CBD’s legal status in the U.S. advanced significantly thanks to the Farm Bill:

  • 2014 – President Obama signs the Farm Bill, allowing research institutions to pilot hemp farming.
  • 2015 – The Industrial Hemp Farming Act is introduced in Congress.
  • 2018 – The Agricultural Improvement Act (the “Farm Bill”) removes hemp, its seeds, and derivatives (including CBD) from the Controlled Substances Act, legalizing hemp nationally.

Since this monumental change, research and interest in CBD have increased dramatically, with numerous institutions exploring the plant and its applications.

The story of CBD is still unfolding, and its journey from discovery to widespread use is a fascinating one. From its early discovery to legal acceptance, CBD has come a long way — and the future looks bright!